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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMurder by Numbers is the 2020 detective-puzzle game, not the 2002 mystery film of the same name. It pairs nonogram puzzles—also known as Picross—with a visual-novel-style crime story. The combination is its main appeal: it is a good fit if you want to solve grids as part of an investigation, but less compelling if you want either a pure puzzle collection or a fast-paced thriller.
What kind of game is Murder by Numbers?
You play Honor Mizrahi, an actress drawn into detective work alongside SCOUT, a reconnaissance robot. Nintendo describes the game’s central loop as solving pixel puzzles to uncover clues and interrogate witnesses. PC Gamer frames it as part crime drama and part Picross anthology: the grid puzzles provide the hands-on deduction, while dialogue and visual-novel scenes move the cases forward.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express - Nintendo Switch | $25.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Murder by Numbers (Limited Edition) for Nintendo Switch | $119.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders for Nintendo Switch | $26.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Hercule Poirot: The First Cases (Nintendo Switch) | $33.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
That means the game’s success depends on two things working together: whether you enjoy solving nonograms, and whether the investigation and characters give you a reason to keep going between puzzles. It is not a conventional detective adventure in which every clue comes from freely exploring a scene; puzzle-solving is central to how the story’s investigation unfolds.
Are the puzzles and story a good match?
The nonograms
If you already enjoy Picross, the format is immediately familiar: use the numbered clues along a grid’s rows and columns to work out which squares should be filled. Here, completed grids contribute to the detective fiction by revealing evidence. The conceit gives familiar logic puzzles a narrative purpose, rather than presenting them only as standalone challenges.
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- New character: The game is a faithful but augmented adaptation of the original story, with a new character named Joanna Locke added to the mix. With her, you can regularly exit the train environment during playable flashbacks.
- Gameplay: Enter into Hercule Poirot’s head to discover mind maps and make deductions, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay. And don't forget the many puzzles with object manipulations that are scattered throughout each chapter.
- Plot: Get ready for major plot twists that will keep the players hooked until the very end. Murder on the Orient Express is renowned for having one of the best plot twists in literary history, and this game is no exception.
- Solve puzzles: As you play, you'll take on the roles of Poirot and Joanna, solve puzzles and make deductions to uncover the truth behind the murder. In a 3rd person view, you'll inspect the sets and talk to all the protagonists, searching for clues and confronting the suspects.
The trade-off is that the game asks you to enjoy the grid-solving itself. If nonograms feel repetitive to you, the crime-story framing may not be enough to make every puzzle satisfying. Conversely, players seeking a large, puzzle-first Picross anthology may find the dialogue and case narrative just as important as the grids.
The investigation and dialogue
The story gives the puzzles context through cases, witnesses and interrogations. That structure suits players who like mystery visual novels and are happy to read between bursts of logic-puzzle play. It is a less natural fit for someone looking for a tightly paced crime thriller or a detective game built primarily around open-ended investigation.
Is Murder by Numbers worth playing?
PC Gamer recommends the game to readers who enjoy both Picross and mystery visual novels. That is the clearest buying guide: the hybrid is the point, not a compromise that disappears once the story gets going. If you like both halves, the cases give the nonograms a satisfying fictional frame. If only one half appeals, consider whether you are willing to spend substantial time with the other.
As a reception snapshot, Metacritic’s 2026 game page displays a 79 Metascore from 19 critic reviews and a 6.3 user score from 32 ratings. Those are scores shown by the aggregator, not a substitute for deciding whether its puzzle-and-story balance suits you; the critic and user figures also come from different groups and sample sizes.
Platforms and editions
Nintendo lists Murder by Numbers as a one-player Nintendo Switch game released on March 5, 2020. Mediatonic lists the game for Nintendo Switch and Steam. Nintendo’s US product page is a digital listing; Eastasiasoft separately lists a region-free physical Switch edition. Availability and stock can vary by retailer and region.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this the game or the 2002 film?
The title is shared with a 2002 mystery-thriller film directed by Barbet Schroeder and starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt. That film is unrelated to the 2020 game reviewed here. Ratings for the film should not be mistaken for ratings of the game.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Rank #4
- Discover the legendary detective in an untold crime story.
- Play as Hercule Poirot in his early years as a detective, when he still had everything to prove.
- Solve a complex murder case where everyone has something to hide.
- Unveil what hides behind the deceiving appearances of the Van den Bosch family.
- Question all the suspects and glean crucial information from them without their knowing..Notice all suspicious behavior as you uncover the dark secrets and rivalries of the upper class..Explore a luxurious house full of buried mysteries. There is more to discover than just the murderer….Use your talents of deduction to link clues in your mindmap.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
